Government divided over suggestion that foreigners could join Portugal’s Armed Forces

While some high ranking members of government believe it is time for ‘reflection’ on the possibility of Portugal contracting immigrants for the Armed Forces (as other European countries do, for example Spain and Denmark, also the UK), defence minister Helena Carreiras is said to be dubious as “it could conflict with the culture of the military”. Foreigner recruitment would require ‘constitutional revision and divide the parties’, writes Expresso – but President Marcelo has already said he thinks it is a solution to the low numbers of recruits that these days come forwards.